Automatic mechanism for operating camera bulb or contact release.



DON CARLOS WISELEY.

AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR OPERATING CAMERA BULB 0R CONTACT RELEASE.APPLICATION FILED SEPT-9.1913.

1,155,981 Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

DON CARLOS WISELEY. AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR OPERATING CAMERA BULB 0RCONTACT RELEASE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9. 1913.

1,155,981 Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

q vifweooco I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DON CARLOS WISELEY, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR OPERATING- CAMERA BULB OR CONTACT RELEASE.

Application filed September 9, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DON CARLOS \VISELEY, a citizen of the United States.residing at Spokane. in the county of Spokane and State of Vashington.have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutoluaticMechanism for Operating Camera Bulb or Contact-Release. of which thefollowing is a specification.

This yinvention relates to photographic cameras. and more-particularlyto means for automatically operating the bulb or contact release ofphotographic cameras.

It is frequently desired by those operating cameras to appear in thepicture that is taken. and it often occurs that groups that arephotographed in commemoration of a party or a gathering of friends orthe llke are considered incomplete as to such party or group for thereason that one of the party is required to remain out of the group inorder to operate the camera at the time the exposure is made.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to enable such aperson, by means of the device constituting this invention. to arrangeall the details, such as grouping. proper adjustment of the camera,etc., and then by connecting the device to the camera. and properlyadjusting it he will be afforded ample time to assume his position inthe group before the device automatically operates the camera and takesthe photograph. As is obvious, the device may be used for taking scenicor other views in which the operator desires to appear.

The object of this invention is carried out by providing means whereinis involved the principle of storing energy to be used at anapproximately predetermined time to operate camera bulbs or contactreleases, the usual means provided for actuating camera shutters.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device of thisnature which is applicable to be used in connection with all makes andsizes of cameras now upon the market, in connection with which a bulb orcontact release may be utilized for operating the camera shutter, andfurther to so construct the device so that the same may be attached tothe'camera and operate it by means of the ordinary bulb or contactrelease which forms a part of the camera.

In carrying out 'thls mventlon, 1t 1s nec- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

Serial No. 788,949.

essary to provide mechanism which will operate the camera shutterwithout disturbing the camera so that the image upon the negative willbe clear. By this invention the operation of the shutter'is effectedwithout jarring the camera and the operation is as positive as ifinitiated by hand.

Another object of this invention is the provision of metallic tubes.forming abody portlon for a device of this nature, which have variousshaped contours so as to more efliciently regulate the operation of thedevice, thereby meeting the requirements of various types of cameras.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in theconstruction of a device of this nature whereby all rough or protrudingmembers may be inclosed within a cover, when not in use, so that thedevice may be more conveniently carried about.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention consists insuch novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention. reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein like characters of reference designate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the mechanism showing itused with the ordinary bulb for operating shutters; Fig. 2 is a viewsimilar to that of Fig. 1 only showing it used with a contact releasefor open ating camera shutters; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1;Fig. 4 is a top plan view of Fig. 2; Figs. 5, 6. 7 and 8 are detailedviews of the end of the tube constituting the body portion of the deviceshowing various methods for permitting the escape of the air within thetube and below the piston. Fig.

9 is a cross sectional View on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to camera bulb: The reference refers more particularly tothe ordinary hollow rubber ball or bulb with a tube for connecting tocameras, but refers also to any manner of means providing the sameconstitutes an air retainer provided with means for connecting to anymember or members of a camera or accessory thereof, and that if apressure be exerted upon any of the sides of said air retainer, the samewill increase the pressure of air contained in said air retainer; all ofwhich will be referred to hereinafter as camera bulb.

By contact release is meant mechanism for conducting motion or movementfrom a point of initiation to a point of utillzation said point ofutilization being provider 1,.

with means for connecting to any member or members of a camera oraccessory thereof. The name, contact release is that by which it iscommercially known though it may have other or various trade names, butwill be referred to hereinafter only as contact release.

By means for engaging camera bulb or contact release, is meant aprovision in a device of this nature for contactly engaging anattachment to said camera bulb or contact release, and the contour andnature of the means described hereinafter is such as to meet therequirements of those commonly used, however, certain minor changes inthe contour or construction of parts may be necessary in certainpractical fields. The above will be referred to'hereinafter as means forengaging camera bulb or contact release.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a metallictube which has its lower end 2 hermetically closed and its upper endprovided with a removable cap 3. The tube 1, which is shown in Figs. 1and 2 of the drawings; is cylindrically shaped having its contourperfectly smooth and exempt from any type of projections, by-passes orthe like.

The cap 3 is provided with an opening 4 centrally located therein whichopening has a small square cut out portion 5 communicating therewith andalso a small tongue 5' projecting therefrom. A rod 6 is slidably seatedin the opening 4 and has a small rib 6' throughout the length of oneside which rib fits in the notch 5' leading from the opening 4, said riband notch providing means for preventing the rod 6 from rotating Withinthe opening 4. A thin metallic plate 7, forming a piston. is mountedupon the lower end of the rod 6. The plate or piston 7 has a leatherwasher 8 contacting with its under surface, which washer is held inplace by means of an annular flange 9 which is formed upon the lower endof the rod 6 which flange engages the inner surface of the center of thewasher 8, thereby securely holding it in place.

The side 10 of the leather washer 8 extends downwardly and flaresoutwardly, decreasing in thickness so as to form an air tight connectionbetween the sides of the tube 1 and the washer 8. thereby providingpractically an air tight compartment between the washer 8 and the bottom2 of the tube 1 when the needle valve 11 is closed.

The needle valve 11 is mounted in the upper end of the rod 6, which ishollow,

and provides a variable outlet for the air from the compartment which isformed between the washer 8 and the bottom 2 of the tube 1. Byregulating the needle valve 11, the amount of air permitted to escapefrom the compartment formed by the washer 8 and the bottom 2 may becontrolled at will.

An expanding coil spring 12 is disposed about the rod 6. having itsupper end engaging the inner surface of the cap 3 and its lower endengaging the piston 7.

The piston 7 has a catch 13 secured thereto which catch extends upwardlyinto the tube 1 and parallel with the rod 6. The catch 13 is constructedof spring sheet metal having an enlarged head 14 which is provided witha shoulder 15 thereon. When the piston 7 and the rod 6 are pulledupwardly, the catch 13 moves through the cut out portion 5 of theopening 4 until the pull has been released when the spring 12 will forceit downwardly until the shoulder 15 of the catch 13 engages the cap 3thereby holding the piston and rod in an upward position against thetension of the spring 12. Releasing means 16, which embodies a flatmember 17. slidably mounted in guideways 18, is mounted upon the uppersurface of the cap 3 and in a position so that when the fiat member 17is pressed inwardly the inner end of the same will engage the head 14 ofthe catch 13 and force it inwardly thereby moving the shoulder 15 out ofengagement with the cap 3 and permitting the spring 12 to force thepiston 7 and the rod 6 downwardly.

An arm 20 is connected to the upper end of the rod 6 and has a pair ofsubstantially semi-circular shaped arms 21 hingedly or detachablyconnected to its outer end and which form a carrier or support for thecamera bulb 22. When it is desired to operate the camera shutter, thearms of the supporting arm 20 attached to the piston 7 by means of therod 6 is pulled upwardly against the tension of the spring 12 until theshoulder 15 of the catch 13 engages the cap 3. The bulb 22. attached tothe camera, is placed between the semi-circular arms 21 and the deviceis then ready to operate the shutter. By forcing the shoulder 15 out ofengagement with the cap 3, by means of the releasing mechanism 16, thespring 12 will force the piston 7 and the washer 8 to which is attached.by means of the rod 6, the carrier 21 containing the bulb 22, downwardlyagainst the force of the air which is confined within the compartmentbetween the Washer 8 and the bottom 2 of the tube 1. As the speed withwhich the piston travels downwardly depends upon the amount of airallowed to escape through the needle valve 11, except a little that'mayleak or seap through between the washer 8 and the sides of the tube, thetime consumed while cap 3. When the bulb 22 contacts with the formedtherein which receives the post 23.

A. cover 27 is loosely connected to the cap 3 by means'of the chain 28or otherwise, and when the post 23 has been detached from the arm 24-and inserted in the opening 26, the arm 24 turned inwardly toward therod 6 upon its pivotal connection at 25 and the arms 21 removed from orturned under the arm 20, the cover 27 may be placed over the cap 3,forming a protection for the various parts of the device which areordinarily exposed, thereby materially decreasing the chance ofaccidentally disarranging any of the exposed parts and making it moreconvenient when it is desired to carry the device about.

In Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, a different type or modified form ofsupporting arm is shown the same constituting an arm 30 which is clampedto the upper end of the rod 6 and secured bv the bolt 31. The outer endof the arm 30 is forked, and the arms 32 and 33 formed upon the forkedend yieldably and frictionally engage a portion of the contact release.

The contact release constitutes a tube 34 which has a rod or flexiblewire (not shown) extending longitudinally therethrough. The end of therelease not shown is provided with means for connecting to a member of acamera or a camera accessory. The end of the tube farthest from thecamera is provided with a metal casing the same providing a guide forthe pin 35 which is secured to the rod or flexible wire (not shown). Ahead 36 is formed upon the outer end of the pin 35.

By forcing the pin 35 inwardly into the tube 34, or the tube 34:downwardly over the in 35, movement will be transmitted throughout thelength of the tubing or the rod or'the flexible wire, in that theirprevious relative position will be shifted with respect to each other,said movement or change of relative position being utilized in theoperation of camera shutters and accessories. The contact release isattached to the mechanism heretofore described by means of thefrictional engagement between the arms 32 and 33, and when the piston 7the rod 6 and the arms 32 and 33, in which is held the contact release,reach a predetermined point in their downward movement, the head 36 willengage the upper surface of the cap 3 and further downward movement ofthe piston 7, the rod 6 and the arms 32 and 33 will force the pin 35inwardly into the tube 34.

The method of operating the mechanism is the same as for that describedin using the device in combination with a camera bulb. Thus theinvention of a device of this nature provides means, when usedincombination with a contact release, for automatically operating acamera or camera accessory at an approximately predetermined time. Nowthen, as will be clearly seen, an arm, such as 30 of Fig. 2 heretoforefully described, may be secured directly below and at right angles tothe arm 20 upon the rod 6 of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1 andheretofore fully described. Therefore the invention of such acombination of parts provides means for auotmatically operating a cameraor camera accessory at an approximately predetermined time when used incombination with a camera bulb, contact release or both'camera bulb andcontact release.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the escape of the air which isconfined in the compartment formed by the washer 8 and the bottom 2 ofthe tube is through the valve 11 located in the rod 6 and what smallamount may leak or seep through between the washer 8 and the sides ofthe tube. This will in some instances be of suflicient amount to permitof the piston and washer moving downwardly the necessary amount foroperating certain types of camera shutters.

In Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings. various modified forms of theend of the tube are shown. These various shapes are provided fordiflerent types of cameras where a greater amount of force is necessaryto operate the camera shutter and which necessitate a sudden or quickaction of the piston to efliciently operate the bulb or contact release.By such a 'provision the air between thepiston and the sides and the end2 of the tube, when said piston has reached a predetermined point in itsdownward movement, will be allowed to escape freely around the pistonand into the other end of the tube, thus the pressure of the spring 12will be exerted more directly upon the bulb or contact release. InIFig.5, the lower end of the tube 1 is shown as flared outwardly so that whenthe piston and washer pass thepoint 40, which is the conjunction betweenthe cylindrical and flared portion of the tube, the same will movequickly thereby administering a sudden or-quick impulse to the bulb orcontact release.

In Fig. 6 the end 41 of the tube 1 is bulged outwardly and this bulgingis provided for the same purpose as the flaring of the tube 1.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings, the tube 1 has by-passes 42 and 43 connectedthereto and extending along the sides of the same. The by-pass 42communicates with one side and the lower end of the tube allowing theair to be forced upwardly through the by-pass into the upper portion ofthe tube after the piston and washer have passed the point 44, at whichpoint the upper end of the by-pass communicates with the tube. Theby-pass 43 has both its ends terminating in the sides of the tubeinstead of one in the side and the other in the end as does the by-pass42, and the purpose and functions of the bypass 43 are identical withthose of the bypass 42 as well as the bulge 41 and the flared end of thetubes 1 and 1.

The contour of the tube l 'shown in Fig. 8, is provided with a pluralityof outstruck portions 45 which may be substantially triangular shape-d,as is shown in the drawings, or semi-circular shaped or any of manydifferent types of shape as should be desired, provided a similarby-pass or air passage way 47 is formed along the sides of the tube topermit the air to pass upwardly out of the compartment formed betweenthe piston and the end of the tube into the upper portion of the same.

From. the foregoing description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the advantages of construction and the methodof.operation of the means for automatically operating camera shutters oraccessories in combination with a camera bulb or contact release, willbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains and, while in the foregoing description, the principle of theoperation of this invention has been described, together with variousfeatures of construction, it is to be understood that certain minorfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may bealtered to suit practical conditions, provided such alterations arecomprehended Within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the character described a cylinderhaving closed ends, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, aplunger extending from said piston through an opening formed in one endof said cylinder, said opening having an offset leading therefrom, aresilient catch extending from said piston and passing through thecutout leading from the opening in the cylinder head when said plungeris drawn outwardly, means for moving said resilient catch to aninoperative position, and means for yieldably holding said piston in anormal position.

'2. A device of the character described including a cylinder, a pistonslidably mounted in said cylinder, a plunger extending from said pistonthrough the head of said cylinder, resilient means extending from' saidpiston for engaging the head of said cylinder to releasably hold saidpiston in a set position and means for returning said piston to itsnormal position when said resilient means is moved to an inoperativeposition.

3. A device of the character described in cluding a cylinder having ahead, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, resilient meanscarried by said piston for engaging the head of said cylinder to'releasably hold said piston in a set position, and means for returningsaid piston to its normal position when said resilient means is movedout of engagement with the head of said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DON CARLOS WISELEY.

Witnesses:

A. G. ELSTON, C. O. TEISBERG.

